Connor's LED blinked yellow as he reeled in his line for what seemed like the hundredth time. He really didn't understand it. Why hadn't he caught anything yet? There were definitely fish in the lake. He'd scanned beneath the surface and seen two or three different schools in the depths below. Their small boat wasn't too far away, so they should have been lured in. He'd hooked the worm just like Hank showed him, and he'd ensured the line flew far enough that their boat wouldn't scare off the fish, so why weren't they biting? Hank seemed utterly unaffected by their lack of progress. He was content to sit back against the edge of the boat and sip his iced tea while nibbling a sandwich. Am I doing something wrong? What could it be?

"If you keep casting your line like that, you'll scare off the fish." Connor winced, LED blinking red at the reminder. That was true, but surely casting his line into a new area would be better than simply waiting. Hank chuckled softly as he sat up and reeled his own line. "You really need to learn patience!" Connor's soft eyes widened at the jibe. Patience?

"We've been waiting for over an hour!" He didn't understand it at all! They had bait, their lines were strong and well-cast, and they'd been sitting quietly without moving. The fish should have bitten ages ago! They definitely liked the bait they were using. Hank had recommended it as what he always used. Am I doing something wrong? Maybe Hank was right, and he'd been reeling in too much, but the fish weren't biting where their hooks drifted beneath the surface. Hank grinned, flicking his line over his shoulder before whipping it out into a new area. Connor watched the feathery line fly almost four metres away. It fell with a plop and drifted there mockingly.

"You need to play the long game! We're not on the clock, we have all day. It's still early yet, and the fish always get more active in late afternoon." Perhaps that was true. Evening would bring more insects to the water, so the fish would chance coming to the surface more often. Gritting his teeth, Connor flicked his rod and cast perfectly, watching the line arc through the air and plop in the water a little further out than Hank's. "That was a good cast! Now sit down and stop worrying. You'll give yourself a short circuit!" He was far too advanced for that, but he knew better than to try explaining his inner workings to Hank.

"So I'm just supposed to...wait?" It seemed like a waste of time. Surely there was a way to make it more efficient. Perhaps he could tug on the line to entice the fish. Hank's hand on his arm stopped him as he reached for the pole.

"Seriously, just give it a minute." Connor's LED blinked yellow again, hazel eyes following the thin line all the way out to the bobbing waves. The surface was calm, glittering in the summer sun. Luckily, the shade from the trees stretched out to where their boat was drifting, and Hank was wearing a floppy felt hat to keep the sun out of his eyes. His whole outfit was typical fishing gear. A pale green chequered shirt, faded jeans, wellington boots, and a khaki body warmer full of hooks and spare lines. Connor was similarly dressed in a blue shirt, thanks to Hank. He'd insisted he dress the part for this trip.

It was their first vacation since returning to the DPD, and Hank had rented a waterside cabin with a small dock at the edge of Canada. They were miles from the city, surrounded by nature. There was a small town about thirty minutes from the cabin where they could buy supplies, and there were a few other families in the cabins close to theirs, but it was still very quiet. It was the most peaceful place Connor had even been. Hank's knowing eyes softened as he noticed his LED drop to blue, hazel eyes closing as he simply listened. There was a gentle creak and splash from the waves on the boat, which rocked gently beneath them. Birds flew above their heads and twittered in the rustling trees. Voices carried from the shore, where other families were enjoying the day. Fishing, barbeques, hiking in the forest, playing on the banks.

"That's better." Connor blinked at the gentle gruff and tilted his head. "This is what we came out here for." Connor frowned, making Hank chuckle with his confused expression.

"I thought we came to fish..." He'd called it a fishing trip. Surely, fishing was their primary mission! A mission he was currently failing. Hank's boot tapped his shin as his LED stuttered yellow again, something disapproving in his eyes as he sat forward on his small bench.

"And that's what we're doing...You don't have to catch fish to go fishing! It's about the experience! Getting away from the hustle and bustle, being out in nature, and getting some quality family time." Connor hummed softly. He thought they got plenty of quality family time already. They worked together every day, and they lived together. After work, they took Sumo to the park, went shopping, and cooked dinner. On their days off, they were always sure to do something productive, like improving the house and other odd jobs. "Just close your eyes and listen again...What do you hear?" Connor did as asked, quietly enjoying the gentle breeze on his cheeks.

"Children, rustling leaves, animals, the water, a crackling fire, some-"

"Right, and what don't you hear?" Connor's nose crinkled at that. It was an odd question. There were many things he couldn't hear. Perhaps that was the point..."No cars, no sirens, no busy streets..." Hank was right. The lack of noise was pleasant. Where the city was always rushing, life at the lake was slower. It also meant they could spend more time with Sumo. Since they were fishing, Sumo was relaxing in the yard, and they'd left the door to the cabin open for him. There were few people about, and those they'd met all seemed like nice people. He certainly wouldn't leave the door unlocked in Detroit, even if Sumo was a sizable deterrent.

"I suppose it is pleasant..." Hank nodded his approval and nudged the cool bag towards him. Although he couldn't eat, Hank had packed him a cold bottle of thirium to enjoy on the lake. Connor smiled as he pulled it out and cracked the lid, gently clicking the bottle against Hank's metal flask as he offered it. "Did you ever...take Cole fishing?" Something a little sad crossed Hank's features, making him almost regret asking the question.

"No...No, he was a little took young back then. Couldn't keep still for a second! He would have enjoyed the woods, though..." Hank nodded off towards the thick trees lining the banks. "He loved insects. Probably would have turned over every rock in the forest to find them!" He seemed happier as he traced the treeline, probably imagining all the happy times he might have had. Returning his soft blue eyes to Connor, he smiled warmly. "But that was Cole. Fishing is our pastime. Just you and me." Something swelled in the pit of Connor's artificial stomach at that. Just him and Hank. Their own special bonding activity.

"Thank you, Hank." Hank chuckled fondly, lacing a worn hand in his hair to ruffle the thick locks. They both startled as Hank's rod jerked and he grabbed the spinning reel.

"See? What did I tell you? Patience is key!" Connor watched intently as Hank tugged and reeled, letting the line slack occasionally so as not to lose his prize. The fish he caught was a decent size, and would certainly feed one person. Hank chortled in triumph as he grabbed the squirming fish and dropped it into their ice box. Connor couldn't help feeling sorry for it, but it wouldn't go to waste. Hank would eat it for dinner that very night. "Alright, we'll see if we can catch one more for Sumo and call it a day. Sound good?" Connor nodded as Hank baited his hook again, quietly hopeful that he might catch the next one.

Since the water had been disturbed, Connor reeled in his line and looked for a new spot. The disrupted school had scattered, but was slowly reforming on the other side of their boat. His LED span yellow as he scanned the water for the perfect place. Hank huffed fondly as he watched Connor staring intently at the rippling water. Part of him thought that scanning was cheating, but it was part of his nature. Androids weren't like humans. Their scans were often automatic, so even when they weren't needed, their natural reaction was to lean into those subroutines. Connor's line swished as he cast the hook, and Hank took his time before casting, checking the line and doing a few test swings.

Happy with his catch, Hank lounged back in the boat and let his line bob idly. It would take time to hook another fish, and Connor would let him know if the line caught. His LED was already spinning yellow, impatiently waiting for his turn. It was a good thing the fish couldn't sense it. They'd swim away for sure. He'd never seen Connor so antsy before, not even at work on a big case. Perhaps it had something to do with being out of his element. The RK800 series had been designed for detective work, so he knew what he was doing at the DPD. Out here, sitting in a fishing boat, he was learning completely new things. Building experiences.

"Just relax! It's not a race or competition. If they bite, they bite, if they don't, they don't." Connor nodded distractedly, still eyeing the surface even after he'd turned to give Hank his full attention. Hank hummed softly as their boat drifted, though it didn't move much. The waves in the lake were all but non-existent with the fine weather they were having. Following Hank's previous advice, Connor closed his eyes and listened to the rustling of trees and the twitter of birds. Honing in on their cabin, specifically the yard, Connor even heard Sumo's gentle pants as he snuffled the grass and padded around in the shade. It was probably a pleasant change for him, having so much outdoor space and being allowed outside for so many hours.

Hank's backyard was cramped and cluttered, another project on their list of things to sort out that summer. There wasn't much room for Sumo to roam, and with the busted fence panels, they wouldn't dream of leaving him out there when they were working. It wouldn't be fair if it started raining, or the weather turned cold. There was an old dog house out in the yard, but even that needed a little renovation to make it weatherproof after all these years. They couldn't just leave the back door open so he could roam in and out, either. Detroit wasn't exactly safe, even in the suburbs where Hank lived. Connor quietly set about planning the yard upkeep, only pausing as Hank let out another fond chuckle.

"Your brain is busy again. What are you doing this time?" There was affection in those soft blue eyes as he watched him. Connor's LED flicked from yellow to blue as he put a pause on his internal renovations.

"I was planning out the yard work for when we get back, and how we might improve Sumo's dog house to give him more freedom during the day. If we weatherproof the house and add a door and heating pad, then he might like to-"

"A heating pad? You're spoiling him!" Hank chuckled, though he didn't argue against the idea. Sumo was getting old. It was a sad thought, but he'd already noticed the arthritis setting in, and as he got older, those joints would only get stiffer. He'd also start feeling the cold more, despite the thick fur, so a heating pad would help keep him comfortable. Connor also had a point about him being stuck inside all day. It probably didn't bother him in the winter with the cold and shitty weather, but during the hotter months, he'd likely prefer being outside where he could lounge in the sun.

"It's a sensible precaution, especially during fall when the temperature drops. The weather is also quite unpredictable, and a door and heating pad would keep the kennel cosy in all weathers." He couldn't argue with that, though he wasn't sure how a door in the small hut would work unless Connor fitted an electronic one. "Sorry. I know I'm supposed to be enjoying the peace, and I am! It's just my processors work well being idle..." Connor looked a little guilty, as if he'd done something wrong. Hank reached across and ruffled his hair again, watching his hazel eyes thin.

"You don't have to apologise. I know your android brain runs different. You'd probably be more stressed being idle with nothing to do." To an extent, that was true. If he couldn't keep his mind occupied, he'd probably begin running physical diagnostics instead, and he already knew Hank found the coin tricks annoying. It wasn't so much the tricks themselves but the noise that got on his nerves. He'd confiscated his coin more than once at this point, but always returned it within a few hours. So far he'd figured out he was free to do tricks at his desk, and whenever they were out in the open, but within closed spaces was a no-go. "I guess we've got a busy summer ahead of us..." Connor nodded as he looked at their list so far.

Since he was now a permanent resident, they were working on re-decorating the spare room to his specifications. He'd chosen a soft blue colour for the walls with a white trim, and they were going to buy new furnishings, along with a charging alcove. Some of the house furniture was past its best and needed an upgrade as well, like the sofa that had worn through on one side. The garden was cluttered with old household items Hank had intended to throw away a long time ago. Sumo's dog house needed an upgrade, and once the yard was clear, Connor intended to plant a modest garden. The fence also needed to be replaced after all these years. There were multiple worn and broken panels that had been battered and cracked by the weather. This would all have to be fitted in with their regular duties at the precinct, working five twelve-hour shifts a week and often added overtime.

"It would be prudent to complete the yard work first, since it requires good weather." They could hardly replace the fence or rework the garden in the winter. It would be too wet and cold. Getting Sumo's house finished would also give him adequate time to enjoy it before being trapped inside for the winter months.

"Sounds like a plan." Although it sounded like a plan, Hank was clearly in no rush to get started as he lounged in the boat and traced the shore with idle eyes. It was nice to see him so relaxed. Life at the DPD was stressful, and that hadn't improved with the end of the revolution. Androids gaining rights had left the precinct understaffed, with both humans and androids reluctant to sign up. Androids didn't trust the workload to be fair, and humans were afraid of being attacked by androids. There were also many recruits being turned away because of their ties with organisations like the Anti-Android League. Prejudice couldn't be allowed to fester in the workplace. Even current staff were under scrutiny and undergoing re-education where androids were concerned.

Connor blinked, LED spinning yellow as his background scan alerted him to it. A fish! He turned his head and waited, focusing on the sparkling surface where his line was bobbing. Something in his chest cavity whirred in anticipation as the fish finally opened its mouth and latched onto the hook. His hand snapped out with pre-programmed ease to grab the rod before it pulled, gripping tight as the fish pulled the line. Hank was up in an instant, leaning forward to grip his elbow. Connor grabbed the spinning reel and started turning, tugging and easing on the line as he'd seen Hank do earlier.

"That's it, not too fast now, son...Give it a little slack...Not too hard-not too hard..." Connor did his best to follow the instructions, trusting Hank's experience to guide him. He could feel excitement bubbling in the pit of his stomach as he finally pulled the line up to see a fish wriggling on the end. Hank let out a small whoop and slapped his shoulder before reaching for the line and carefully bringing the fish in. "It's a beauty! Good job, son." Connor was quite certain he was exaggerating, mainly because his fish was smaller, but the praise was touching nonetheless.

"Shall we return to shore?" Connor asked, already planning dinner. They'd have to head into town to grab a few things, like fresh vegetables. That would mean a nice walk for Sumo if Hank was up to it. If not, perhaps he and Sumo could walk there and meet Hank's car at the other end. There were multiple ways they might cook the fish, especially since the cabin provided a garden barbecue set. Sumo might enjoy that. He wouldn't risk feeing him the fish raw, but cooking it simply over an open flame should be alright.

Connor took the oars, taking his time to turn the boat and row them back to the small wooden dock near their cabin. He tied the boat while Hank climbed up and reached down to take the ice box, gruffing his thanks as he handed it up. At the foot of the dock, Hank set the box down and pulled out his phone to take a picture. Apparently, it was a fishing tradition to take a picture with your catch of the day. With that in mind, Connor followed Hank's lead as he grabbed his fish by the tail and held it up for the camera. He insisted on multiple pictures. One selfie with the both of them, and then one proper picture each.

"We should do these family vacations more often," Hank said as he returned his fish to the box and looked over their pictures. "Here..." With a few taps, he sent the pictures to Connor's internal line. Connor stored the pictures with a smile, not reminding him that he would remember everything with perfect clarity until the day he was deactivated. He may remember the events perfectly, but seeing the pictures still made him smile, and this was how Hank would remember. Even when the exact details fractured and faded, the pictures would remain to remind him of their first fishing trip.

"Perhaps we could go hiking next time." Connor was only half teasing as he followed Hank up the path to the front door.

"Hiking? Are you trying to kill me?"

"Hiking has been proven to improve both mental and physical health, and not all trails are hard. We could find an easy forest trail and bring Sumo with us." Hank could hardly argue with that. There were likely only a few more years where Sumo would be able to fully enjoy such experiences, so they should make the most of it. That didn't stop him from shoving Connor's head on the way through the door.

"So you are trying to kill me!" He grinned, guffawing as Connor continued to protest his innocence all the way through to the kitchen, where their catch would be stowed until dinnertime.